Intel Core i3-2120 vs AMD Phenom II X4 940 BE

Comparative analysis of Intel Core i3-2120 and AMD Phenom II X4 940 BE processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Graphics, Graphics interfaces, Compatibility, Peripherals, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score, CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s).

 

Differences

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i3-2120

  • CPU is newer: launch date 2 year(s) 1 month(s) later
  • Around 10% higher clock speed: 3.3 GHz vs 3 GHz
  • A newer manufacturing process allows for a more powerful, yet cooler running processor: 32 nm vs 45 nm
  • Around 92% lower typical power consumption: 65 Watt vs 125 Watt
  • Around 24% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1509 vs 1213
  • Around 45% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 577 vs 397
  • 3.2x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 35.45 vs 11.035
  • Around 18% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s): 0.227 vs 0.192
Specifications (specs)
Launch date February 2011 vs January 2009
Maximum frequency 3.3 GHz vs 3 GHz
Manufacturing process technology 32 nm vs 45 nm
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 65 Watt vs 125 Watt
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark 1509 vs 1213
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 577 vs 397
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 35.45 vs 11.035
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 0.227 vs 0.192

Reasons to consider the AMD Phenom II X4 940 BE

  • Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
  • 2 more cores, run more applications at once: 4 vs 2
  • 4x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
  • 4x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
  • 2x more L3 cache, more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
  • Around 21% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 2358 vs 1956
  • Around 5% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 1331 vs 1265
  • 51.5x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 3.763 vs 0.073
  • Around 68% better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s): 3.856 vs 2.296
Specifications (specs)
Unlocked Unlocked vs Locked
Number of cores 4 vs 2
L1 cache 128 KB (per core) vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache 512 KB (per core) vs 256 KB (per core)
L3 cache 6144 KB (shared) vs 3072 KB (shared)
Benchmarks
PassMark - CPU mark 2358 vs 1956
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 1331 vs 1265
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 3.763 vs 0.073
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) 3.856 vs 2.296

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: Intel Core i3-2120
CPU 2: AMD Phenom II X4 940 BE

PassMark - Single thread mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
1509
1213
PassMark - CPU mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
1956
2358
Geekbench 4 - Single Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
577
397
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
1265
1331
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
0.073
3.763
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
35.45
11.035
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
0.227
0.192
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
2.296
3.856
Name Intel Core i3-2120 AMD Phenom II X4 940 BE
PassMark - Single thread mark 1509 1213
PassMark - CPU mark 1956 2358
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 577 397
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 1265 1331
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score 0
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 0.073 3.763
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 35.45 11.035
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 0.227 0.192
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s) 0.999
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) 2.296 3.856

Compare specifications (specs)

Intel Core i3-2120 AMD Phenom II X4 940 BE

Essentials

Architecture codename Sandy Bridge Deneb
Launch date February 2011 January 2009
Launch price (MSRP) $95
Place in performance rating 2893 2867
Price now $30
Processor Number i3-2120
Series Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Status Launched
Value for money (0-100) 38.51
Vertical segment Desktop Desktop

Performance

64 bit support
Base frequency 3.30 GHz
Bus Speed 5 GT/s DMI
Die size 131 mm 258 mm
L1 cache 64 KB (per core) 128 KB (per core)
L2 cache 256 KB (per core) 512 KB (per core)
L3 cache 3072 KB (shared) 6144 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology 32 nm 45 nm
Maximum core temperature 69.1°C
Maximum frequency 3.3 GHz 3 GHz
Number of cores 2 4
Number of threads 4
Transistor count 504 million 758 million
Unlocked

Memory

Max memory channels 2
Maximum memory bandwidth 21 GB/s
Maximum memory size 32 GB
Supported memory types DDR3 1066/1333 DDR3

Graphics

Device ID 0x102
Graphics base frequency 850 MHz
Graphics max dynamic frequency 1.10 GHz
Graphics max frequency 1.1 GHz
Intel® Clear Video HD technology
Intel® Flexible Display Interface (Intel® FDI)
Intel® InTru™ 3D technology
Intel® Quick Sync Video
Processor graphics Intel® HD Graphics 2000

Graphics interfaces

Number of displays supported 2
Wireless Display (WiDi) support

Compatibility

Low Halogen Options Available
Max number of CPUs in a configuration 1 1
Package Size 37.5mm x 37.5mm
Sockets supported FCLGA1155 AM3
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 65 Watt 125 Watt

Peripherals

Max number of PCIe lanes 16
PCI Express revision 2.0

Security & Reliability

Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Identity Protection technology
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)

Advanced Technologies

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Flexible Display interface (FDI)
Idle States
Instruction set extensions Intel® SSE4.1, Intel® SSE4.2, Intel® AVX
Intel 64
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Fast Memory Access
Intel® Flex Memory Access
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Intel® vPro™ Platform Eligibility
Thermal Monitoring

Virtualization

Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)